Apparatus for burning fuels



April 29, 1941.I

vA. L. BAKER APPARATUS FOR BURNING FUELS Filed Dec. 17, 1937y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNvEN-AroR ALBERT L M/ffl? Pfwww:

ATTORNEY April 29, 1941. A. L. BAKER A 2,240,250

APPARATUS FOR BURNING FUEL's Filed Dec. 17, 1937 2 sheets-sheet 2 I i I fse- INVENTO'R ALBERT L. BAKER ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 29, 1941 APPARATUS Fon BURNING FUELS Albert L. Baker, Summit, N. J., assignor to Gasoline Products Company, Inc. Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application December 17, 1937, Serial No. 180,277

4 claims. (o1. 15s- 1) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for heating fluids and particularly for converting higher boiling hydrocarbons into lower boiling hydrocarbons.

In the treatment of hydrocarbons it is customary to locate tubes on the walls of a furnace so that the tubes will be exposed to radiant heat or hot combustion gases or both. Burners are provided yfor burning fuel in a combustion chamber or zone to provide the 'heat necessary to raise the temperature of the hydrocarbon fluids in the tubes.

According to my invention a plurality of burners comprising sets of opposed fuel nozzles is provided, each nozzle preferably having a series of openings which are set at an angle to the horizontal so that the fuel streams are projected downwardly into the combustion chamber of a furnace and mixed with air to produce names having the desired characteristics.

In the preferred form of my invention there is a plurality of' burners each having a. pair of parallel fuel nozzles, each nozzle preferably being elongated and provided with a plurality of orifices which are adapted to direct thin, wide streams of fuel into the combustion une in a furnace. The streams of fuel may intersect Within the combustion zone t'o form lone type of ame or the nozzles and orifices may be arranged to have the streams pass-by each other in opposite directions to form a diiferent .type of. flame. The fuel nozzles are preferably placed at the top of the furnace to provide downiringwhere-` by additional space is provided on the oor of the furnace for heating tubes', but the f uel3nozzles may be positioned at other places in the'furnace. By having oppo'se'd fuel nozzles each havingits own lfuel supply, the pressure on the fuel and the amount of fuel delivered to any'nozz'le may be varied and way the flame-and flame pattern may be changed and by maintaining the pressures on, the fuel' deliveredt'o eachnozzle I can maintain theI flame" `v'vhich isfnde'slred' or .whichl give the' best" results. Witufssts" cr opposed fue; nozzles, greater fnmibjintyl nitrieccntr'olof the nameA length; namef'direcun and name pattern for varying furnace" c'apac'ities'" is thick/1 flame may be: obtained.`

radiant sectionof the furnace arelocated substantially out of the path of the hot gases and are heated predominantly by radiant heat,`while those in convection section are swept by.hot

products of combustion and the tubes are heated by absorbing heat from such gases. It is desirable to have a hot name in the combustion zone which may be varied as desired, to provide radi-ant heat for selected sections of the tubes which, for example, may be ordinarily hard to heat. `But it is important not to have the ame impinge on the tubes as this causes overheating of, and damage to,vthe tubes.

A method of burning fuel in a furnace having tubes for heating hydrocarbon fluids contemplated by my invention includes selecting a pres- 'sure on the fuel fed to one of the nozzles in a burner to obtain a desired ame which may -be directed to a selected set oftubes to produce the desired heating of the hydrocarbon fluids. Inl operating a furnace according to my invention the flame size, flame length and name pattern can be varied to produce the best heating conditions for the tubes.

Other features and advantages of A my invention will be pointed out hereinafter' in the detailed description. f

In the drawings:

Figure 1,represents a. vertical cross-section taken. through a furnace embodying my invention;

Figure 2 represents a. vertical cross-section 'taken substantially on line 2-'K-2 of Figure 1 with the-walltubes omitted tofacilitater the disclosure;

Figure `3' represents a vertical transverse crosssectionv taken through a' burner of another form adapted to be .n'fo'unted on the roof tubes on a furnace; and

Figure 4 represents a longitudinal vertical cross-section' takeri-l substantially on line t-I of Figure 3.v

Referring now'totlie drawings, they reference character I0 designatesafurnace'- having a main heating chamberforfradiant section'y l2 and a convect'ion section Ilseparated by a bridge'wall I 6. Banks of roof` tubes? I8;7 Wllll tubes' 2i),1 22 and |52 of thefurr'iaceg The?cross'eoverfconnections filacloutlet 29 isfprovide'dy for conduct-l ingtne' producteur cdmbus'ibnlfrjpm the furnace;-

i erst 312" are prev-idea at! the topf or" the furnace* lof to the nozzles.

for burning fuel such as gas, oil or the like to supply heat to the furnace, the vburners being spaced longitudinally of roof tubes |8 and preferably positioned at one end of the radiant section |2 of the furnace |0. The burners shown in Figures 1 and 2 will be first described. The burners are mounted in an air duct generally indicated by 34 which will be later described in more detail. Each nozzle has flared sides 35 which terminate in an elongated member 36 having a straight line of orifices or openings 38 which lare directed downwardlyat an angle of about 30 to 35 to the horizontal. The elongated members 36 of each burner are arranged in parallel relation. The orifices 38 are adapted to direct fuel streams toward each other so that the fuel streams intersect within the combustion chamber I2 of the furnace l when the orifices of the opposed nozzles are in alignment. l

The nozzles of each burner are preferably mounted on two adjacent roof tubes, each nozzle having a leg 40 engaging the top of one of the roof tubes. The legs 40 extend through slots 4| in the air duct casing 34. Each nozzle may have its own source of fuel feed. For instance, in the burner shown in Figure 1, nozzle 30 is connected to and communicates with a pipe 42 having al valve 44, and nozzle 3| is connected to and com--v municates with a pipe 46 having a valve 48. The pipes 42 and 46 may be supported by the air duct connection with Figures 3 and 4 Where the means jection 10 which extends from the wall of the air I air duct 54. 'The inner end of the arm 12 is casing 34.` By having individual feed pipes 42 and 46, the pressure on the feed and the quantity 1 of fuel fed to one nozzle o f a set may be varied to change the flame pattern, ame length, flameY direction, etc., to produce the desired heating. A plurality of burners is mounted on roof tubes as shown in Figure 2 preferably in alignment. If desired, instead of having individual valves for the individual burners, a master valve control may be provided for sets of burners.

The air duct casing 34 has a lmain feed conduit 52 which feeds into spaced air ducts 54 to the individual burners. The casing 34 has inwardly directed bottom portions 56 for directing the air toward the fuel streams issuing fromthe nozzles 30, 3| of the burners 32'. The casing 34 may be supported in any suitable manner.

Air under any suitable pressure is forced into the main feed conduit 52 and then is conducted to the individual air ducts 54 in which the burners 32 are mounted. If desired, a. main damper 58 may be provided for the main feed conduit 52 and auxiliary dampers 60 having actuating arms 62 may be provided for the individual air ducts for controlling the Vamount of air delivered to the individual air ducts and burners.

When the orifices in opposed nozzles of each set are directly opposite, a relatively long :dame will be obtained, the direction of which can be changed by varying the pressure on the fuel fed By offsetting the orifices so that they are not directly opposite, the flame pattern can be changed. This effect is obtained by moving one nozzle with respect to the other so that the fuel streams from the orices in one nozzle will be offset with respect to the fuel streams@ I have shown means for moving one of the nozzles with respect to the other nozzle of a burner which will now be described generally in connection with Figures 1 and 2 and later more particularly in form of burner for the furnace.

pivotally connected to the top of a vertically arranged arm 14 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 16. The lower end of the arm 14 ls pivotally connected atV 18 to nozzle member 30. Theoperating member 66 has a securing means at 80 for holding the operating member in adjusted position. By moving the operating member 66 to the left or right in Figure 2, it will be seen that the nozzle member 30 may be moved longitudinally ofthe roof tube 8| of the furnace. Nozzle member 3| is xed in its position and with operating member 66, nozzle 30 can be moved relatively to nozzle member 3|. i

In Figures 3 and 4 I` have shown a modied This burner comprises an enclosed box-like chamber 82 open at its bottom portion and having a' top wall 84, side walls 86and end walls 88. The box-like member 82 is provided with curved arms 80 which straddle the roof tubes 9| `and which hold the burner in position on the roof tubes.

A pair of nozzles 92 and 94 is provided. Each nozzle comprises an elongated tubular member 96 provided with a series of orifices 98 which are directed at an angle of about 30 or 35 to the horizontal so thatstreams of lfuel are directed downwardly and in a general direction toward each other as shown by arrows in Figure 3. Bracket members |00 and |02 are provided for mounting the tubular members 96 on the side walls 86 of the box-like enclosing means 82. These brackets include curved arms |03 which embrace the nozzle members. The outer ends of the bracket members are threaded as at |04 to receive nuts |06. 'I'he brackets |00 hold the nozzle member 92 somewhat loosely in position in order to permit longitudinal movement of the nozzle member 92 relatively to nozzle member 94 for adjustment purposes as will be presently described. The brackets |02 for the opposed nozzle 94 rigidly hold nozzle 94 in position.

Pipe members ||0 and connected to the respective nozzle members 92 and 84 are provided for supplying fuel to the respective nozzle members. Valves 2 and 3 are provided in the pipes ||0 and whereby the pressure on the fuel and the amount of fuel admitted to the nozzle members may be varied. An air duct ||4 extends through the end wall members 88 of the enclosing means 82 and is provided with an opening 6 for introducing air to the burner. The burner shown in Figures 3 and 4 operates shown in Figures' 1 and 2 and means are included for moving one nozzle member relatively to the other nozzle member of the burner.

The means for adjusting ,the nozzle member 92 with respect to nozzle member 84 willnow be The lower end of the operating member described. A base member |20 secured to the outer face of one of the end walls 88 serves as the mounting for an operating member |22 pivotally mounted at |24. The base member |20 is provided with a slot |26 through which extends a wing nut member |28 for holding the operating member in adjusted position. The lower end ofthe operating member |22 is pivotally connected at |30 to a horizontally arranged arm |32 which extends through the end wall 88 into the interior of the enclosing means 82. 'I'he irmer end of the arm |32 is pivotally secured to a vertically arranged member |36.- The vertically arranged member |36 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at |38 on a member |39 secured to the inner surface of the end Wall 88. The lower end of the vertically arranged member |36 is provided with a vertical slot |42 for receiving a pin |44 secured to spaced members |46 which are rigidly secured as by welding to one end of the nozzle member 92'. From the foregoing .description it will be seen that when it is desired to move the nozzle member 92 longitudinally of the roof tube 9|, the Wing nut |28 is loosened and operating member 22 moved either to the left or to the right in Figure 4 and this will cause corresponding movement of the nozzle member 92. For example, moving the operatinglmember |22 to the left in Figure 4 moves the lower end thereof and arm |32 to the right and this in turn u moves-the top of vertical arm |36 to the right and the lower end thereof to the left. As the lower end of arm |36 is connected to thenozzle member 92, the nozzle member 92 will be moved to the left longitudinally of the roof tube 9| and relatively to the other nozzle member 94.

An opening |49 having a cap |50 is provided adjacent the Aburners 32 for introducing a torch or the like for lighting the fuel introduced into the furnace.

While I have shown only one burner in Figures 3 and 4, it is to be understood that in firing a furnace a plurality of such burners will be used and they may be positioned along the roof tubes of a furnace as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

While I have shown burners for ring a furnace, it is within the contemplation of my invention to use a single burner having the control features above described in an apparatus where one burner would be sufficient.

'Ihe method of operating the burners of my invention including a methodof firing a furnace will now be given. With hydrocarbon fluid passing through tubes I8, 20, 22 and 28, fuel is introduced into the nozzle members 30 and 3| in Figure 1 and air is introduced into the main air duct 34. A lighted torch or the like is introduced through the opening 49 to ignite the fuel and the torch is then removed. After the fuel stream is ignited, a flame is produced by each burner 32 which can be varied by changing the pressure on the fuel streams introduced through lines 42l and 46 or by changing the relative positions of the nozzle members of each burner. With the apertures or orices 38 of the nozzle members 30 and 3| directly opposite and with the pressure on the fuel passing through lines 42 and 46 to nozzles 30 and 3| of each burner 32 substantially equal, a flame Will be obtained which extends substantially along the axis shown diagrammatically in Figure 1. With the nozzle members 30 and 3| in the same position and by increasing the pressure on the fuel introduced to nozzle member 30 through line 42, the resulting flame will be moved to the right in Figure 1 so that the axis of the flame is generally along line |52 shown diagrammatically in Figure 1. If it is desired to direct the ame toward the wall tubes 20, the pressure on the fuel introduced to nozzle member 30 may be somewhat reduced and the pressure on the fuel introduced to nozzle member 3| through line 46 is increased so that the flame will be moved toward the left in Figure 1 and the flame will extend substantially along the line |54 as an axis shown diagrammatically in Figure 1. 'I'he products of combustion from the ames will follow the general path indicated by arrows |56 to the convection section |4 of the furnace where heat will be absorbed by tubes 28 and then out through the outlet 29 of the furnace.

If it is desired to vary the ame pattern and obtain a short, thick and wide flame, nozzle member 30 is moved with respect to the nozzle member 3| [by actuating operatingmember 66 so that the orifices 38 in the nozzle member 30 are offset with respect to the orifices in the opposed nozzle member 3| and not directly opposite thereto. It'is only necessary to move nozzle member 30 a short distance. The fuel streams from the apertures or orices 38 of the nozzle members will then pass one another and a sh0rter flame will be obtained along the axis |5| when the pressures on the fuel streams introduced to the nozzle members 30 and 3| are substantially the same. By varying the fuel pressures and with the nozzle members in the olset position just described, the axis of the short, thick and wide ame will be moved to the right or to the left in Figure 1 as described in connection with the previous operationv Where the orices 38 of the nozzle members 30 and. 3| were directly opposite, and in this Way the type of flame for best heating the tulbes or any selected tubes may be obtained.

The burner shown in Figures 3 and 4 operates in substantially the same Way as the burner 32 abovedescribed and it is not necessary to repeat the operation with respect thereto.

From the above description it will be seen that I have disclosed a method of firing a furnace and a controllable burner which can be used for firing furnaces adapted for heating hydrocarbon fluids .'but which can be used for other furnaces. 'Ihe :llame produced by the burner can be changed from a relatively long flame to a relatively short ame and the flame direction and flame pattern can be changed so that the heat produced by the flame can be utilized to its best advantage in raising the temperature of the hydrocarbon fluid in the tubes. By changing the flame length, name direction and flame pattern, I am enabled to provide most heat where desired and to provide radiant heat for selected sections ofthe tubes, which, for example, may be hard to heat.

While I have shown particular forms of burners it is to be understood that they have been shown for purposes of example only and may be changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A heating apparatus of the character described including a combustion chamber, a burner for said combustion chamber and comprising spaced substantially parallel nozzle members, each of said nozzle members being. provided with a series of orifices through which fuel streams Apass into said combustion chamber where they intersect when said orices are directly opposite each other, means for supplying air for burning the fuel, and means for moving one of said nozzle members longitudinally of the other to odset one series of orifices with respect to the other whereby the fuel streams from said orifices will be olset and will pass each other in opposite directions in said combustion chamber to produce a shorter flame than a flame produced by having the orifices of said nozzle members directly opposite each other.

2. A heating apparatus of the character dcscribed including a combustion chamber, a burner for said combustion chamber and comprising spaced cooperating nozzle members adapted to direct streams of fuel toward each other and into said combustion chamber, means for supplying air for burning the fuel, means for supplying fuel to each o-f said nozzle members under pressure to produce a flame extending along a line forming an extension of the axis of said burner and means whereby the pressure on the fuel supplied to said nozzle members may be varied to change the flame direction. said nozzle members being provided with a series of orifices through which the fuel streams pass, the orifices of the nozzle members in one position being directly opposite each other so that the fuel streams intersect within said combustion chamber, means for moving one nozzle member longitudinally of said other nozzle member so that the fuel streams will not intersect and will be in offset relation to vary the flame pattern.

3. A heating apparatus of the character :ie-

scribed including a comibustion chamber, a burner extending into said combustion chamber and comprising spaced nozzle members adapted to direct streams of fuel toward each other and into said combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel to each of said nozzle members, means for supplying air for burning the fuel and means whereby the pressure on the fuel fed to one of said nozzle members may be increased to control the intensity and pattern of the flame resulting from the burning of the fuel streams, said nozzle members being provided with a series of orices through which the fuel streams pass, and means for moving one of said nozzle members longitudinally of said other nozzle member whereby the fuel streams from said orifices will be offset with respect to each other and will pass eachother in opposite directions in the combustion chamber.

4. A device of the character described including a casing having an outlet, spaced parallel elongated nozzle members adjacent said outlet, means for supplying fuel to said nozzle members, said nozzle members being provided with series of orifices adapted to direct streams of fuel toward each other and through said outlet and means for moving one of said nozzle members longitudinally of the other'so that the fuel streams from said orifices may intersect or not whereby the length and pattern of the flame produced by burning the fuel streams may be changed.

ALBERT L. BAKER. 

